Why did Jimmy Carter beat Ford decisively in 1976, but then get annihilated by Reagan in 1980?

Why did Jimmy Carter beat Ford decisively in 1976, but then get annihilated by Reagan in 1980?

He had his chance and blew it… If he were black he could have got a second term…

The economy.

Inflation was nearing 20%

Carter didn't beat Ford decisively. He won by a close margin 296 electoral votes is not a "beating" it is a win but not a beating by any stretch of the imagination.

Most say it's because of his mishandling of the US embassy hostage crisis in Iran (1979)

Because Ford pardoned Nixon. (That election was very close.) Then Carter failed to put his foot down over the hostages.

Karl Rove's southern strategy and Reagan was a gifted actor and liar, if he in fact even knew he was lying or what was going on.

Watergate. The 1970s and 80s was a conservative time to America, at least as far as the presidency went. Republicans were in ascendancy. Jimmy Carter was able to win in 1976 because of Watergate. The Scandal cause people to sour on the Republican Party enough for Jimmy Carter to win. But four years later, people had turned against Carter. His presidency hadn't been successful and Reagan was able to get about half the vote by promising change